Increased Protection for Animals in Danger in Massachusetts
Download as PPT, PDF0 likes182 views
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that law enforcement can enter private property without a warrant if they believe an animal's life is in danger, similar to the exception for human life in emergency aid situations. This precedent was set in Commonwealth v. Heather M. Duncan, where police found two dogs dead and a third emaciated after receiving a call about dogs left outside in poor weather without a warrant. The ruling encourages other states to allow warrantless entry in suspected animal abuse cases.
More Related Content
Viewers also liked (6)
More from Lois Pope (13)
Recently uploaded (20)
Increased Protection for Animals in Danger in Massachusetts
- 1. Increased Protection for Animals inIncreased Protection for Animals in Danger in MassachusettsDanger in Massachusetts
- 2. Recently, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court made a monumental decision in the case of Commonwealth v. Heather M. Duncan. The ruling allows law enforcement to enter private property without a warrant when they have reason to believe an animals life is at risk. This new precedent parallels a similar protection for human life, the emergency aid exception.
- 3. Commonwealth v. Heather M. Duncan dates back to 2011. After receiving a call from her neighbor, police entered the property of Ms. Duncan without a warrant to remove three dogs left outside in inclement weather. Officers found two dogs already dead and a third extremely emaciated. The courts charged Ms. Duncan with three counts of animal cruelty, which she challenged by claiming that the police had entered illegally because they lacked a warrant.
- 4. The ASPCA filed an amicus curiae to urge the court to allow police to enter homes without a warrant in the case of suspected animal abuse. Importantly, this ruling encourages other states to take similar measures.